This map traces how current development projects in Boston overlap with existing and future urban conditions of transit access and sea level rise (SLR). While sea level rise maps the future of neighborhoods in Boston, bus routes show how they are connected. One could argue that SLR and bus proximity are two key factors in understanding the feasibility of a development, so understanding how each project relates to these factors could be key in the projects’ viability. Pending a project’s location, the development would need to respond to various structural and neighborhood needs (storm surge barriers or enhanced foundations for SLR or blue bike or bus stop infrastructure, for example).

While anyone looking at development projects under review should use this map to trace the factors of bus access and SLR, concerned residents are also an audience. To draw the audience’s attention to developments at the most critical point, projects that are currently under review (last updated August 2022) are particularly highlighted. Other projects, whether under construction, recently completed, or in more preliminary phases, provide further context of the development scene in each neighborhood.

Map created by Natalie Boverman using R.

Data sources:

Boston Neighborhoods: Boston Maps, available on Analyze Boston

Boston Article 80 Development Projects: BPDA Salesforce, available through Boston Open Data

36inch Sea Level Rise 10pct Annual Flood: MassDOT, available through Boston Open Data

MBTA Bus Routes: MBTA Salesforce Data, available througb MassGIS Data

Acknowledgements:

Zach Tesler helped me filter my data sets to better manipulate them in the map.